TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- University of AlabamaPresident Robert Witt addressed Tuesday some offensive comments that were chalked on the side of Moody Music Building by an unknown person.

In a written statement, Witt wrote the language "could be particularly upsetting to African Americans."

The Crimson White reports that someone chalked racial slurs and pictures
on the archway in front of the building during the day on Tuesday.

The report says witnesses saw vandalism depicting a figure hanging from a noose along with several racial slurs.

The CW report says the chalking included the phrase from a
Clifford Joseph Trahan (Johnny Rebel) song that includes a racial epithet.

The chalked comments were removed as soon as they were discovered, Witt said, but he said he wants to emphasize that UA finds the behavior "totally unacceptable" and "strongly condemns any use of these words on campus.

Witt said the university will make every effort to identify and punish those responsible.

"This University respects and values each member of our community," he wrote "I hope that every decision will reflect that commitment."

The university also announced a new 24-hour hotline allowing students and others to anonymously report incidents of discrimination, harassment or hazing, the CW report says. The hotline number is 205-348-4258 (HALT).

This article was edited to remove a direct quote from the song lyrics.